Member's Zone

Trainees's Zone

Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (Research Centre Juelich)
Programme Group Humans, Environment, Technology

Key Personnel

Dr. Hans Peter Peters, Senior Researcher
Ms. Monika Kallfass M.A., Senior Researcher

Institutional profile

The Research Centre Juelich is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German National Research Centres. With its 4,200 employees (among them 1,100 scientists and 400 Ph.D. students) it carries out basic and applied research on matter, energy, information technology, environment and life sciences. The centre also has a strong commitment to public communication of science and technology. To the centre’s manifold activities in this field belong the visitors’ programme, active participation in the German PUSH (= Public Understanding of Science and Humanities) and “Science in Dialogue” initiatives, a yearly award for the best public presentation of a doctoral thesis and various support programmes for young researchers and pupils.
The Programme Group Humans, Environment, Technology (MUT) is the centre’s social science research unit. Its 15 researchers from different scientific disciplines are committed to exploring society’s handling of chances and risks arising from scientific and technological developments. One of MUT’s three principle research activities deals with the impact of scientific expertise on the development of public opinion on science, technology and environment. In particular, the studies investigate media reporting of science & technology, its reception by the audience and the interactions of scientists and the media. Hans Peter Peters is the principal researcher in this MUT research area. Since 1992 MUT also offers media training workshops for scientists.

Selected Publications

Peters H.P., The committed are hard to persuade. Recipients' thoughts during exposure to newspaper and TV stories on genetic engineering and their effect on attitudes. New Genetics & Society 19, 2000, 365-381.
Peters H.P., From Information to Attitudes? Thoughts on the Relationship Between Knowledge About Science and Technology and Attitudes Toward Technologies In Dierkes M. and von Grote C. (eds.), Between Understanding and Trust: The Public, Science and Technology. Reading (UK): Harwood, 2000, 265-286.
Peters H.P. : The Interaction of Journalists and Scientific Experts: Co-operation and Conflict between two Professional Cultures. Media, Culture & Society 17, 1995, 31-48.